Candian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon will arrive in India on March 13 to formally announce the opening of Canada's [Images] trade office in Kolkata, said sources.

He might also meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images] in New Delhi [Images], but the date of the meeting has not yet been fixed.

Cannon will be the fifth Canadian federal minister to visit India in the last seven weeks.  The frequent visits by Canadian ministers to India are indicative of the deepening ties between the two countries.

However, there has been no reciprocal visit by any Indian minister during this period.

While Industry Minister Tony Clement had visited India two weeks ago, International Trade Minister Stockwell Day had visited India in January. He had met Dr Singh and discussed the civilian nuclear deal between the two countries.

Informed sources say that Canada will sign a formal civilian nuclear deal with India in April. Cannon will follow up on discussions about the nuclear deal with Dr Singh, say sources.

Cannon is also likely to visit Mumbai [Images], besides Delhi and Kolkata.